Men's Hockey | 10/25/2009 12:34:41 AM

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COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – The RIT (0-5-0, 0-2-0 AHA) men's hockey team lost a heartbreaker at Air Force (2-4-0, 2-0-0 AHA), 3-2 on a goal with one second remaining in overtime. Air Force's Matt Fairchild scored the game-winner as time ran out to hand the Tigers their first regular season sweep in AHA conference play.

RIT came into the game 13-2-1 all-time at the Division I level in the second game of a weekend series. The Tigers were 12-4-1 in Saturday games last season and 11-2-1 in the second game of a weekend series. The Tigers came into the game having never been swept in a conference series since joining the league in 2006.

The first period saw plenty of action, but no scoring. RIT fired six shots on net in the opening period, including one by Scott Knowles (Riverside, Ontario/) that beat Air Force goaltender, Andrew Volkening but caromed off the post.

Air Force struck first at 6:27 of the second period on a partial breakaway by John Kruse. Danny Durham stripped the puck from a Tiger along the boards and fed a streaking Kruse who beat Jared DeMichiel (Avon, CT/) low and to the glove side.

RIT tied the score at 13:50 of the second on a power play goal from Cameron Burt (Detroit, MI/). Senior captain Dan Ringwald (Oakville, Ontario/) started the play, hitting Andrew Favot (King City, Ontario/), who was cutting to the slot, with a pass. Volkening made the pad save on Favot's shot, but gave up a rebound that came right to Burt, who fired a wrist shot over Volkening's right shoulder. It was Burt's third goal of the season.

RIT took a 2-1 lead on a goal from Alan Mazur (Burnaby, British Columbia/). Freshman Jeff Smith (Spokane, WA/Tri-City Storm) fired a shot from the point. Volkening made the save with the rebound going to Andrew Favot (King City, Ontario/). He turned and fed a streaking Mazur who one-timed it over Volening's shoulder for his first of the season.

Early in the overtime, Daniel Spivak (Thornhill, Ontario/) turned the puck over in his own zone on a clearing attempt. Stephen Carew intercepted the clearing pass and was all alone in the slot. But DeMichiel came up with the save of the game, kicking the shot aside to preserve the tie.

RIT came right down the ice and created a great chance. Trevor Eckenswiller (Lions Head, Ontario/) swept around the back of the net and found Tyler Mazzei (Kelowna, British Columbia/) in front but Volkening made the save.

The Tigers took a penalty late in the overtime and seemed to have the tie in hand. But, with time running out Fairchild somehow snuck the puck past DeMichiel for his fourth goal of the season.

RIT out shot Air Force 30-26 on the night. The Tigers went 1-for-3 on the man advantage, while the Falcons went 1-for-4.

Jared DeMichiel (Avon, CT/) played an excellent game but took the hard-luck loss, making 23 saves. Andrew Volkening picked up the win for Air Force, making 26 stops.

Favot had a pair of assists in the loss for RIT.

RIT returns home to Frank Ritter Arena on Friday, October 30, when they host Atlantic Hockey rival Connecticut. Face-off is at 7:05 p.m..